ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The San Diego State volleyball team held the statistical advantage in most categories except the scoreboard on Thursday, falling to New Mexico in a tough four-set decision (21-25, 23-25, 25-18, 21-25) at Johnson Center on the UNM campus.
Despite maintaining the edge in kills (54-45), hitting percentage (.151 to .112), digs (67-63) and team blocks (13.0 to 10.0), the Aztecs (4-16, 2-7 MW) were unable to avoid their sixth straight defeat, as the Lobos (12-7, 3-6 MW) employed timely runs in their three victorious sets to escape with the win and snap a three-match slide of their own.
SDSU displayed a balanced attack with three players compiling double-digit kills on the evening. Mikela Labno led the Scarlet and Black with 12 kills, while Julia Haynie and Kayla Rivera launched 10 put-aways each.
Haynie posted a career-best .769 hitting percentage on 13 attempts without an error and tied her season-high with seven blocks, including a solo stop. Rivera also flashed her prowess at the net with six rejections of her own, including a solo stuff, while Ellie Geoghegan established a career-high 24 digs to lead all players.
Not to be outdone, Noa Miller logged her third double-double of the season with 25 assists and 10 digs despite splitting the setter duties with Sarena Gonzalez (16 assists), while Heipua Tautua'a provided a spark off the bench with nine kills and a solo block over the final three frames, including five non-returnables in the third set alone.
Meanwhile, the Lobos rode the arms of Kaitlynn Biassou (18), Uxue Guereca (10) and Lea Zurlinden (9), who combined for 37 of the team's 45 kills. In addition, UNM received seven blocks from Avital Jaloba, including a solo effort, while Anilee Sher recorded a double-double of 37 assists and 10 digs to go with four block assists.
Elsewhere, Alena Moldan finished with 18 digs and served up two aces, while Biassou narrowed missed a double-double of her own after totaling nine scoops.
The teams combined for 24 ties and 11 lead changes in a highly competitive affair. However, the Aztecs were their own worst enemy at times, committing more attack errors (30-28) and service errors (9-5), while the Lobos held a slight 5-2 edge in aces to help eke out the win.
Each team blasted 17 kills in a furious opening set that witnessed seven ties, as Labno led the Scarlet and Black with six put-aways herself, hitting .417 for the frame after committing just one error in 12 swings.
With SDSU clinging to an 18-16 lead, UNM quickly turned the tables with five straight points to ignite a 9-3 closing rush. Biassou keyed the run with three kills, including the clincher, while Lauren Payne floored another shot in the interim and combined with Jaloba on a block.
The contest turned into a defensive stalemate in the second stanza where each side registered 11 kills and 16 digs, while the Aztecs maintained a 6.0 to 3.0 edge in team blocks. Haynie totaled four blocks alone in that span, including a solo stop. It wasn't enough, however, as the Lobos closed fast and furious once again.
SDSU nursed a precarious 21-19 lead after a Labno kill but could not give itself further separation. Zurlinden followed with a put-away of her own and joined forces with Payne on a block, while Guereca served up an ace. After an Aztec timeout, Rivera combined with Elly Schraeder on a rejection to knot the score at 22-22.
However, the Lobos nudged in front on a successful challenge, with Biassou getting credit for a kill, while SDSU imploded with two attack errors on the next three points, which allowed the host school to escape.
Undaunted, the Aztecs went back to work in the third frame and finished with a 15-9 advantage in kills while totaling four blocks to fuel their rally. Tautua'a provided a much-needed spark with five kills in the set, while Haynie added four put-aways of her own.
Still, SDSU found itself on the wrong side of a 14-12 score until a 7-0 surge vaulted the visitors in front for good. Haynie and Rivera teamed up for a pair of blocks to highlight the run, while Tautau'a launched consecutive non-returnables in the interim. The Lobos never drew closer than four points the rest of the way, as Haynie powered down two more kills, while Tautua'a and Kat Cooper each added a put-away to help keep the hosts at bay.
Seeking to extend the match, the Aztecs totaled more kills in the fourth set (11-8), with Tautua'a flooring four shots in that stretch, while Haynie added three.
However, UNM held a slight edge in blocks (4.0 to 3.0) while benefiting from four SDSU service errors and four unforced wayward attacks, which stymied the visitors' comeback hopes.
Still, the fourth frame was no less dramatic, as the teams combined for 10 ties and six lead changes. The Aztecs held their last lead at 14-13 following a Lobo attack error. However, UNM seized control with a timely 12-7 run to finish off the match. After a pair of errant SDSU attacks, Moldan served up two aces to give the Lobos momentum.
Shortly thereafter, Madison Blanco contributed another ace, while Jaloba came through with a solo block and combined with Sher on another, which gave the host school a commanding 22-16 lead. The Aztecs twice cut the margin to three, including a 24-21 spread after a Lobo attack error but an errant swing on the next point ended the match.
San Diego State returns to the court on Saturday, Oct. 22, when it plays host to Air Force, starting at 1 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Fall in Four Sets at New Mexico
